Lee Keith Secrist

Lee Keith Secrist 1944-2021 returned to his heavenly father from complications of congestive heart failure and COPD on Tuesday, May 4, 2021.  How do you describe the wonderful man that Lee was in just a few paragraphs?  I don’t know but I’m going to try.  Dad was born on August 15, 1944 in Ogden, UT. He was adopted by his loving parents Keith and Lily Secrist and along with younger brother Lon they were raised in Bountiful Utah. Dad developed a strong work ethic as a kid working on his uncle’s farm and becoming an Eagle Scout that carried with him thru his whole life.

In 1961, when dad was a senior at Bountiful High School (Go Braves) he met the love of his life when he walked into math class and there sat a beautiful 15 yr. old red head named Laurie Burningham.  They became high school sweethearts and on May 1^st 1965, they were married.  They spent their honeymoon driving to Southern California to start their new life together.

Mom and dad were excited that they were going to be parents and in Aug 1967 they had their first-born daughter Jayme. They say that a girl’s first love is her daddy and boy was that the truth.  Dad always joked that I better not come on his birthday so I arrived 3 days later and we shared birthday cake ever since. 

In July 1974, mom and dad were blessed again with the birth of their son Matthew.  Dad was so proud of Matt. He loved that he was able to help him become an Eagle Scout and when Matt enlisted into the Marines, I don’t think his smile could have been any bigger.  Dad loved his family and his country fiercely and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for either. 

Dad worked for GM (train division) but knew he wanted more for himself and his family. That desire to be able to provide for us and serve his fellow man led him to become a La Palma Police officer in 1970.  In 1973, while working in Lynwood, the police department was acquired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff and there he started his long career as a deputy Sherriff where he worked both out on patrol and then in the Men’s central jail retiring after 30 yrs. of dedicated service in 2000.   Dad loved being a deputy sheriff and it was with his fellow LEO’s that he made true lifelong friends.  After Dad’s retirement, they decided to leave California and came back home to Bountiful were their life together started.

Dad was the master at storytelling, writing and telling bad dad jokes.  He had a wonderful sense of humor, the utmost gift of gab and was as stubborn as they come. Dad had a natural talent of woodworking and he could always be found out in his garage.  Dad’s other big love was trains.  Many a book, daily drive or vacation centered around trains. Dad was a member of the Hostlers Train club along with the Utah State Railroad authority and The Golden Spike chapter of The Railroad & Locomotive Historical society, where he worked with a team at Union Station restoring a vintage steam engine tinder.  He was one of a kind guy, wonderful husband, great brother, and the most awesome dad.  They truly broke the mold with him.  He will be greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure to know him.

Dad is survived by his wife of 56 yrs. Laurie, his brother Lon (Ann) Secrist, sister-in-law Sharon (Gary) Fuller, daughter Jayme, son Matthew along with many nieces and nephews.

Dad is preceded in death by his parents Keith & Lily Secrist and James & Beth Burningham in-laws.

The family will receive friends and family on Friday, May 14^th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 295 N. Main St. Bountiful, Utah and on Saturday, May 15^th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Russon Mortuary followed by a graveside service at 11:00 a.m. at the cemetery. Interment will be at Bountiful City Cemetery.

For those unable to attend the graveside service in person, a live broadcast can be seen on the Russon Mortuary & Crematory Facebook page. The live broadcast will also be posted below at around 10:50am.